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The 10 Best Horror Movies of the 90s
The 90s was an era when horror movies boomed, and this list comprises the best of the decade.
This is not a complete list, but it does represent some of the best horror movies the 90s had to offer. Enjoy!
Silence of the Lambs
I’m always shy about saying this is a horror movie because it doesn’t remind me of the other, cheesier movies. This is a good, scary movie though with plenty of creepy moments. For instance, imagine being locked in a storage garage and you stumble upon a head in a jar. I might mess myself, just to be honest. And let’s not lie, there’s one memorable moment that doesn’t get mentioned often in reviews. Wondering which one? Remember the line, “Look, a blonde!”?
The Blair Witch Project
This is not my favorite 90s horror movie, but it was extremely popular. I watched the entire movie and was actually really bored. Then I went home that night and couldn’t erase the last images of the movie from my head. I slept with the lights on that night, and I was 21. Did I feel like a nerd? You bet!
Seven
Let me start by saying that Kevin Spacey makes the best villain ever. Nearly shaved head, intense look and completely soft spoken; I’d be scared of him if I met him on the city bus (and especially so if he threw up on me due to the banality of my chatter). This movie has some very shocking images, including a man (monsterish in appearance) thought to be dead that coughs at the last second. This movie is also full of quotable lines, such as Brad Pitt’s famous line, “What’s in the box?”.
Scream
A movie that turned the genre on it’s head. Scream took all the conventions of Horror Movies and used them in a clever way. There’s actually a character that avoids dying simply because he’s a virgin. Don’t believe sex leads to murder in horror movies? Watch Friday the 13th. If nothing else, Scream has the best opening scene of any 90s horror movie. Forget seeing Drew Berrymore naked, you get to see right through her.
Candyman
I don’t care how cheesy anyone thinks this movie is, I still can’t say “candyman” in front of a mirror. This movie is fun and freaky on many different levels, but my favorite part is the lead character’s response to fear. Helen Lyle, a graduate student, is confronted several times by Candyman. During most of the confrontations, she stares at him as if in a trance and cries quietly. I can respect any approach that’s not the normal “Scream Queen” approach.
The People Under The Stairs
This movie was originally creepy just because it’s a creepy story: two siblings are entangled in an incestuous affair, and they also like to kidnap and imprison children in their basement. Of course it’s creepy. I never thought anything like this would be possible until a few months ago when a man in Austria was arrested for similar crimes. I will probably never watch this movie again for that reason, but it was a great cheesy, horror flick when I was a teenager.
Tremors
One of the cheesiest, funniest, and grossest horror movies produced in the 90s. Any movie that has the dad from Family Ties as a gun toting radical makes me happy. Mix in Kevin Bacon and Dune-like worms intent on demolishing everything that moves, and you have a winner in my book!
Misery
Annie Wilkes will live in infamy in my mind forever. A Plain-Jane, girthy appearance hides one of the most evil characters ever to appear on the silver screen. Her masochistic abduction of writer Paul Sheldon is nothing short of cruel. Here’s a hint for this movie, when you see the sledgehammer, cover your eyes.
The Prophecy
Who doesn’t love Christopher Walken? In this movie, God doesn’t. When asked why Christopher, playing the angel Gabriel, doesn’t just speak to God about his woes, he replies, “He doesn’t talk to me anymore.” For years after seeing this I would insist on trying to knock people out by raising one hand to them and making the “shhh” sign with the other. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, then you haven’t watched the movie.
Wes Craven’s New Nightmare
This is the only sequel that has made it onto this list. I generally don’t give sequels much credit but this one is special. The reason this one makes the list is that it breaks through the traditional sequel mold and takes a look at the Nightmare on Elm Street movies from the perspective of filmmakers. What would happen if Freddy became real and entered into the real world? Watch the movie and find out.
I like “Silence of the lamb” the most…maybe it appears to be interesting to me. Thanks and take care!
candyman…is the best for me. hehe!
Oh, how I love The People Under the Stairs! That movie was truly creepy and that little kid who played the lead role was phenomenal.
great scary movies…some of them i like it…great job…keep it up….
Great list, but I dont consider the Silence of the Lambs a horror movie. It’s a psychological thriller / suspense film, and an Academy Award winner at that.
Good day!
I would have to agree with Verniel. Silence of the lambs is a thriller. It is amazing, but it shouldn’t be classed as a horror. The original is even better though, but that was made in 1986. It’s called Manhunter, if you’ve never seen it, buy it.
Great frightening movies.
great picks. I love Silence of the Lambs, Seven, & Misery. Only one I would delete is Blair Witch. I really thought it was more stupid than scary. Thanks.
Loved Seven, It has to be one of my favorite movies, just because of the pure wickedness of Kevin Spacey’s character. Great choice in movies.
Excellent list of movies.
Danny, I would agree that Manhunter is an excellent movie. It is based on Harris’ book “Red Dragon” which some, including myself, consider better than “Silence of the Lambs”.
Interesting list, you’ve got some great choices there. I do tend to agree with previous comments suggesting that Silence of the Lambs shouldn’t be considered a horror movie, you do however make an interesting case for its inclusion. Nice work!
These were scary movies, The scriest one of all to me was “The Silence of the Lambs” I still look for Lector walking down the street with his walking stick.
Great list though I have only watched a few of them, as I’m not a fan of real horror movies such as haunted houses and vindictive ghosts. But I love pshycho thrillers like Silence of the Lambs and Scream.
Misery, Silence of the Lambs, and the Blair Witch Project definitely make my top ten of scariest movies.
reading this made me feel nostalgic.
Nice composition of nostalgia for me. Well done!
FOr me a lot on this list are not horror movies but thrillers. There is a big difference.
I liked everything about this article. It makes me want to go out and rent these movies, because my curiosity has been aroused.
Take Care,
Kiki Stamatiou (Joanna Maharis)
thanks
Loved People Under The Stairs but I liked Misery better in book form – same with that other Stephen King classic The Shining.
My wife and I were just talking about Candy Man last night. We talked about not being able to say Candy Man in the mirror when we were kids. Scream seemed a bit humorous with the odd twist and turns. Thank you for sharing this article.
Chris
Hey, I never thought The People Under the Stairs was all that scary. I thought it was kind of funny, or maybe I’m just a sicko. Well, anyway I was a good film.
I didn’t think Silence of the Lambs was an out and out horror film. I saw it as a psychological thriller. Maybe that’s just me. Another great article, by the way.
Halloowen is up and surely this lists are hot. I was an avid watcher of horror films during my teens, now that I am in my 20’s I rarely watch them…Great lists though.
I don’t consider most of these horror movies — but Misery is one of my all time favorite movies. It isn’t often the movie gives the book a run for it’s money.
What about “Puppet Master” I recently bought it on ITunes and was watching it. What a great film for its time.